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  • Thrawn: Alliances (Star Wars)

  • Written by: Timothy Zahn
  • Narrated by: Marc Thompson
  • Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,030 ratings)

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Thrawn: Alliances (Star Wars)

Written by: Timothy Zahn
Narrated by: Marc Thompson
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Publisher's Summary

Number-one New York Times Best Seller

Grand Admiral Thrawn and Darth Vader team up against a threat to the Empire in this thrilling novel from best-selling author Timothy Zahn.

“I have sensed a disturbance in the Force.” Ominous words under any circumstances, but all the more so when uttered by Emperor Palpatine. On Batuu, at the edges of the Unknown Regions, a threat to the Empire is taking root - its existence little more than a glimmer, its consequences as yet unknowable. But it is troubling enough to the Imperial leader to warrant investigation by his most powerful agents: ruthless enforcer Lord Darth Vader and brilliant strategist Grand Admiral Thrawn. Fierce rivals for the emperor’s favor, and outspoken adversaries on Imperial affairs - including the Death Star project - the formidable pair seem unlikely partners for such a crucial mission. But the Emperor knows it’s not the first time Vader and Thrawn have joined forces. And there’s more behind his royal command than either man suspects.

In what seems like a lifetime ago, General Anakin Skywalker of the Galactic Republic, and Commander Mitth’raw’nuruodo, officer of the Chiss Ascendancy, crossed paths for the first time. One on a desperate personal quest, the other with motives unknown...and undisclosed. But facing a gauntlet of dangers on a far-flung world, they forged an uneasy alliance - neither remotely aware of what their futures held in store.

Now, thrust together once more, they find themselves bound again for the planet where they once fought side by side. There they will be doubly challenged - by a test of their allegiance to the Empire...and an enemy that threatens even their combined might.

Praise for Thrawn: Alliances:

“It’s a science fiction beach read in the best way, brisk and amusing, with some cool additions to the Star Wars galaxy.” (Den of Geek)

“Like all of Zahn’s novels set in a galaxy far, far away, it’s an essential read for anyone looking for an artistically done adventure.” (CNET)

©2018 Timothy Zahn (P)2018 Random House Audio

What listeners say about Thrawn: Alliances (Star Wars)

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Story was soooooooo boring, wow.

felt like a knock off of the Sherlock Holmes movies when he thought out his fighting. At the end I didn't feel like I gained more knowledge about the Star Wars universe. I miss the old Thrawn.....

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5 people found this helpful

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Terrible

Overall one of the worst SW books I’ve finished to date. It took me forever to complete because I wasn’t enjoying it right from the beginning. I’ll be returning this one.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Amazing performance to an ok story.

The voice acting was on point as usual but the story itself can get pretty predictable since you keeping jumping between past and present. Whenever there some exchange of information between 2 characters in the past it is IMMEDIATELY of importance in the present day story events.

If you can get past this I highly recommend this audiobook to any fan of Thrawn.

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2 people found this helpful

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Just doesn't hold up.

Not the same. Like all the Star War content published in the last 20 years it just doesn't hold up to the content created from 77-97. What can you do.

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Timothy Zahn Strikes (Gold) Again

I loved Zahn's old Thrawn books from the 'LEGENDS' canon, and these first two of the new 'CANON' have proved that Zahn knows how to write a character constantly enough that he can even change the backstory without stripping the character of their essence.

I appreciate that this book functions enough as a standalone that reading the first ('Thrawn') isn't entirely necessary, but adds to the characters if you have. Additionally, I enjoy the flipping of the story's tenses to follow characters in multiple time periods at the same time (in the first book, it was entries in a journal vs. present day; in this book, it was a Clone Wars-era mission vs. pre/early Rebel Alliance-era).

As always, Marc Thompson knocks it out of the park with his narrations. The only thing I would wish changed is to have a female voice actor tackling some of the female roles - it sort of takes me out of the story hearing a grown man try to play a woman or young girl. I'm stoked with the announcement of a new entry ('Thrawn: Treason').

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Great Performance. Not So Great Story.

Very hard to finish considering that Timothy Zahn's previous Thrawn novel have been very well written. The first Canon Thrawn novel was great but this lacked with an intriguing story. None of the characters have any sort of arc. Actions were not justified either. It was also Hard to relate to.

With that said, Marc Thompson delivered as always; a believable performance. Cheers.

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Marc Thompson is Amazing

I am always blown away at the production quality and narration of the Star Wars audio books. The music, sound effects, and Marc Thomson's narration bring the story alive.

#Audible1

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meh :/

it's ok but could of been better. it's always nice to listen to Thrawns plans and stuff

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Excellent

Brilliantly performed. Loved the added sound effects. The plot was engaging enough to let me hang in there to the end.

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Interesting but not as good

This second book in the Thrawn trilogy provides an in-depth look at the inner workings of the empire. However, the story is far from being a thriller.

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  • Goggles
  • 2018-08-29

Maybe my expectations were too high...

I loved the first of the new Thrawn books. I thought that was excellent.

Thrawn Alliances, however, two parallel stories, neither I cared about. I was pretty bored throughout. Maybe they're setting something up bigger, but by itself Thrawn: Alliances was just ok at best.

Timothy Zahn writing Thrawn should be a slam-dunk, but everything about it was just kind of dull. I think Thrawn and Vader/Anakin just didn't pair well together. Together they held their characters back rather than elevating them.

Basically, I saw the first book, like a Star Wars movie. A Star Wars movie I'd want to watch again.
Thrawn: Alliances was like an episode of Star Wars: Rebels. It can be enjoyable, but on a completely different scale.

So you just kind of have to go in with the right expectations.

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  • Casey
  • 2018-07-26

Just Couldn't Get Into It

I can't believe that I am going to say this about a Star Wars novel written by Timothy Zahn that features Thrawn as a main character but I just could not get invested in the story. In particular, I found the section that took place during the Clone Wars to be a chore to get through. I liked the Thrawn/Vader story a little bit more but not much.

While I can't put my finger on the entire reason that it just didn't work for me I think the fact that Imperial infighting has been done so much in the new canon didn't help. 'A New Dawn', 'Tarkin', 'Lords of the Sith', nd the first 'Thrawn' novel all featured Imperials with competing interests as part of the plot. It is starting to feel like the Rebel Alliance should have just waited the Empire out and fight among itself to its destruction.

If I can point to something I did like in the story it would be the sections where we followed the Storm Troopers as they worked together as a team. That was fun to see, capable troopers did indeed exist in the Empire.

Marc Thompson is a hero. This is hardly the first Star Wars novel that I have only managed to finish due to his amazing performance and talent and I am quite confident, though saddened as well to know that it won't be the last.

Maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe I will listen to this one again in a couple years and appreciate it more. But for now, it is just okay and I don't feel like I would have missed much if I had skipped it entirely.

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  • JPS
  • 2018-08-23

Very...meh

I loved the first of the two new cannon Thrawn novels but this one felt forced and boring. I also felt that Vader was not true to character and didn't play a believable role. Pretty disappointing considering how good the first was.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2018-07-27

Boring. Aggravating.

Vader is written as a petulant child to contrast against the patient genius of Thrawn. I love both of these characters and invisioned a far different sort of alliance. I'm tired of legacy characters getting used as plot devices. Vader, especially. Seems lime a developing trend with Lucasfilm.
This book also boggs the story down with the minutiae of every little movement of the characters and it subtracts time from developing a better, deeper, more exciting story. I suppose if the author wanted to point out that not every mission executed by Thrawn or Vader was an exciting one, then job well done, I guess.
There's more to say, but suffice it with this: This is a missed opportunity. A great chance to enhance the canon stories of Vader, Anakin, Thrawn, and Padme was tossed aside. That chance won't come again.

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  • Kolton Kulis
  • 2018-09-01

Disappointing

Go listen to the first Thrawn book. That one was great. This one is disappointing.

I'm in the middle of my second listen, and I've lost the motivation to continue. It's just not very engaging. Star Wars is about high stakes battles between good and evil. There isn't any point in the book where the stakes get high and you feel like the protagonists are about to lose control of the situation (except perhaps the very end but it isn't much of a climax). At most, the protagonists just meet a series of roadblocks that they overcome. Listening to this the second time, I just feel bored.

Thrawn is one of my favorite Star Wars characters, but I feel like he shines best when he is contrasted with a mentee who struggles to comprehend Thrawn's machinations. He needs a character like Pellaeon, Car'das, or Vanto to teach. Both Anakin and Vader feel like equals to Thrawn, and both Vader and Anakin only begrudgingly learn things from our favorite Chiss.

Also, the whole journey out into the unknown regions seemed kind of pointless. I never felt like there was much of a threat out there. Thrawn consistently said there was a threat, but I don't think Zahn does a good job of explaining how the "threat" would cause problems for The Empire. It felt like Zahn was violating the rule of Show Don't Tell.

As usual, Mark Thompson does a great job of narration. The production value is great; it's just not enough to save the book.

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  • Ha
  • 2018-07-24

Timonthy Zahn Doing it again!

The story gives answers to many unsolved mysterious between Grand Admiral Thrawn and Darth Vader.

Their challenges from the past and present is flawless narrated by Marc Thompson

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  • James Vinson
  • 2018-07-29

double vision is dumb.

Mark Thompson usually does a great job at the voices but was not very impressed with Anakin Skywalker voice. Also the switching between past and present was annoying. Overall the book wasn't bad but I was disappointed. I expected more from a book that was focusing on two of the best Star Wars characters working together.

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  • Bane
  • 2018-08-31

worst Thrawn book

a very meh storyline over all. There is one nugget of oh that's cool moment in the whole thing. I mostly just hate Anakin for his endless edgy bitching and lack of over all wit. I almost feel bad for Palpatine, it is indeed hard to find good workers.

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  • Lathan
  • 2018-07-25

Sadly disappointed in this story and performance

I've listen to Thrawn and Trakin and numerous outer audio-books (narrated by Marc Thompson) and enjoyed the stories and performances; however, I was disappoint in this book! Thrawn was overbearing and Dark Vader was portrayed as an uninformed underlying in the story. The voice of Darth Vader was totally out of character for his image and past appearances. He sounded like a guy with a sore throat. Vader was being led around by Thrawn like a green lieutenant. Vader has always being portrayed as a smart and capable leader. This story mad Darth Vader seem inept...

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  • Pete
  • 2018-07-26

Keanu, is that you?

Enjoyed this almost as must as the first Thrawn book. There was only one thing that bothered me and that was the voice the narrator used for Anakin. He sounds like Keanu Reeves.

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  • Antoine Souvestre
  • 2019-02-06

Quel livre mais encore plus : quelle performance !

Deux histoires pertinentes et bien ficelées qui se déroulent en parallèle. Mais c'est la performance de Mac Thompson qui est le plus incroyable, il m'a fallu aller vérifier si ce n'était pas lui qui doublait Thrawn dans la série Rebels (ce qui n est pas le cas). L'ambiance sonore prend parfois le dessus sur le texte, mais cela reste assez rare. J'ai dévoré ces deux tomes en moins de 10j.

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